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It is the dawn of the sixth millenium and the stars are seen to fade
Humans reached the stars long ago, building a Republic of high technol-
ogy and universal emancipation and then squandered it, fought over
it, and finally lost it. A New Dark Age has descended on humanity, for
the greatest of civilizations has fallen and even the stars die. Now, feudal
lords rules the Known Worlds, vying for power with fantatic priests and
scheming guilds.
The FADING SUNS universe is revealed in the tales of its people:
nobles, priests, guildsmembers, aliens and peasants. Among the 18
stories collected here:
espionage entangles a poet who must shatter a noble alliance
with a dark entity
a priest seeks absolution from his tortured sins in the storms
of Pentateuch, the Planet of Mysteries
a scientist studying nanotech ressurects an evil from the time
of the Second Republic
a Brother Battle monk dares to trespass on Vau lands to reclaim
a holy relic
t he mythic past haunts an Ukar searching for an ancient crown
that warps time
a morality play reveals how demons tempt mortal souls with thelure of high-technology and riches from the stars
Tales of the Fading SunsEdited by Bill BridgesTales of the Fading SunsEdited by Bill Bridges
Tales of the Fading Suns
TH
E
SIN
FU
LST
AR
STalesoftheFadingSuns
Editedby
BillBridges
FS #234 $15.95ISBN: 1-888906-14-6
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1
Tales of the Fading Suns
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303302 THESINFULSTARS
cowl was my own face.
My foolish pride has unleashed a thing that should not be. He is
my reflection, one that will kill and kill again, for I have created a
monster in my own image a creature less human than human.
Steal Your Face
Steal Your FaceChris Wiese
Missive to Bishop Villaro Cortiz:The following is a complete copy of a scroll brought to my atten-
tion by one of the acolytes here at the monastery. According to her
report, she found it while cataloging the items of one of our recently
deceased brethren. I leave it to you to evaluate its validity and determine
any further course of action related to the matter. As for my part, my
only comment of relevance is a quote made long ago by one far wiser
than myself:
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than myself:It seems that disaster arrives, much like success, when preparedness and opportunity meet.
The Forgotten MinstrelYours,
Deacon Thara Oolahet
I did not know Sidney Feldspreet very well when this whole affair
began. I occasionally went over to the ramshackle tenement he called
home, but admittedly, only when necessary. I feel, however, that I came
to know him over the past year, and I must say that with his passing, I
feel a certain sense of loss.Although the opportunity never arose for me to ask him if he
wished for me to commit his story to paper, I can only hope that he
would look kindly upon me for doing so. As for why I have chosen to
record for posterity such a strange and sad affair, I shall not deny that,
at least in part, I do so to help me sort out a situation that is more than
a little disconcerting. Furthermore, whether due to malady or age, it
seems that the longer I tarry at the task, the less clearly I remember the
details. Perhaps, if I place pen to paper, I can clarify the vague, trou-
bling images that come to me now. Perhaps, once clear, they will tor-ment my sleep no longer.
As I begin, I must say that much of Sids story cannot be corrobo-
rated, for reasons that will soon become apparent. In any case, I have no
intentions of releasing this document until after I have gone to the
bosom of the Pancreator. Neither Sids memory, nor my life, deserve
the inquisitorial investigation such foolishness would bring.
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367366 THESINFULSTARS
waves he saw a glittering star, the future, lighting the east in rich hues.
Glam smiled, realizing his terrible and important truth.
He wanted to shout his secret: We are all murderers and saints, but
the wind rattled, bringing only soft rain and the scent of honeysuckle.
Alyward Allmen: A Morality Play
Alyward Allmen:A Morality Play
Father A, or Mssrs. Quaide & Inabinet (attributed)
Alyward Allmenhas long been one of the most popular of the Re-
gency Period (4550 - 4995) morality plays. Originating on the Hawkwood
worlds, where it is referred to in various noble, Church and town records,
around 4570, its popularity swiftly spread to other worlds. Sir Florvius
Torenson, an expert in the study of Church Theater, states that by
Alexiuss reign at least 23 different versions of the play were in exist-
ence. Of these, the best known one, presented here, is arguably the
fourth version, believed to be from Cymru, a farming town on Ravenna,and the oldest extant version during the Emperor Wars. The Church
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g p
historian Suzuki Hahn Li Halan believes that the play had two authors,
noting a shift in styles when the demons enter in force, while Torenson
believes it is the work of a single priest, whom he identified as Father A.
Religious Drama, under the Universal Church of the Celestial Sun,
had its origins in the early Church, and by the Second Republic had
become a very sophisticated entertainment involving interactive holo-
grams. After the collapse of the Second Republic, the old technologybecame rarer, and the new Church dramas grew out of Church liturgies
of the 42nd and 43rd centuries. While many forms of theater were
suppressed, the Church allowed plays dealing with religious themes and
morality to continue.
The Passion Plays, Mystery Cycles and Morality Plays really began
in their present form during the New Dark Ages, when the Church
presented them to an illiterate peasantry during religious festivals. The
Passion Plays often dealt with the theme of Zebulon the Prophets en-
counter with the Holy Flame, or other details of the Prophets life (thehealing of Zebulon and casting out of the demons by St. Amalthea
being a favorite theme). Other Passion Plays take on other, less elabo-
rated themes from the Omega Gospels, often the lives of the Saints and
immediate followers of the Prophet.
The Mystery Cycles came next, and were often a complex series of
plays dealing with salvation and the order and nature of the Ref lective
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391390 THESINFULSTARS
CONSTULTIUS:
We were set upon by fiends! I fought and fought as hard as I could,
but they were too much, even for me! Alas, our companions are lost!
FATHER CHURCH:
O woe, that such a good soul should fall to such an evil end! But he
fell in valiant service to the Pancreator. I pray only that he had time
to repent of his sins before he died.
Allmen, now wearing a white robe, is lowered on lumnex wire.
ALLMEN:
Fret not, good Father Church, for I managed to affirm my faith in
goodly time, and was snatched from the jaws of damnation by the
intercession of blessed Saint Maya may her name be praised! I
regret only that I was unable to fetch the relics of Saint Inigo back to
you.FATHER CHURCH:
Trouble thyself not one wit more, Alyward Allmen, for such earthly
Polish now your souls, and of sin have great lack,
The Celestial Suns light thereby to send back;
Let your actions be an example to all of your race
And rejoice on the sharing of the Luminous Grace!
SAINTS:
Ipse caelum fecit et maria;
Mors ad eius tremit imperia;Regni tui non erit terminus!
Vivat Zebulon in aeternum!
FATHER CHURCH:
Praise be to the Celestial Sun!
EVERYONE:
Praise be!
The cast bows to the audience, and a hymn is sung as the audience
disperses.
The End
Alyward Allmen: A Morality Play
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matters are no longer thy concern. (He turns to audience.) And let it
so be for all faithful folk, that they honor the Pancreator, learn the
words of the Prophet and heed the teachings of the Universal Church
of the Celestial Sun, so as to be taken up at the end of their lives and
dwell eternally in the Empyrean heavens!
As Father Church speaks, all the Empyrean Angels and Saints file onto
stage.
ANGELS:
Ever and always is it thus:
The souls of the faithful return unto us.
For the Pancreator moves not by wanton whim
But desires that His children shall come back to him.
So heed, one and all, this simple playAnd hold steadfast to the one true way
Of devotion, goodwill and earnest piety,
So to gain the shining grace of the deity.
Shun evil ways, give no ear to false words
And your hearts shall take flight like beautiful birds.
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394 THESINFULSTARS
their homes and myths for clues to the riddles of the ancients. But some wonder: How
long will the gods permit such transgressions against their children? This book details
the histories, cultures and unique powers (theurgic and psychic) of these two races.
Stock #: 232, ISBN: 1-888906-10-3, $12.95
SINNERS& SAINTSHere is a rogues gallery of people and creatures from the Known Worlds and
beyond: noble rivals, well-meaning (and not so well-meaning) priests, space pirates,
deadly mercenaries, assassins, alien animals (pets and predators), bizarre creatures and
more. Each has a story to tell and will lead player characters into intrigue and adven-
ture. Each comes on its own sheet for ease of use by both players and gamemasters.
Stock #: 233, ISBN: 1-888906-11-1, $16.95
GAMEMASTERSSCREENA sturdy screen with charts and tables to help the Fading Sunsgamemaster run
his stories, with weapons and armor charts, skill lists and more. Includes a fully illus-
trated Weapons Compendium detailing the wide variety of Known Worlds weaponry,
from swords to slug guns to more exotic weapons, such as the Symbiot Element Gun.
An additional bonus is a full-color map of the Known Worlds! Stock #: 201, ISBN: 1-888906-01-4, $12.00
NOBLEARMADASTARSHIPMINIATURESGAME
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A starship miniatures game of broadsides and boarding actions in the Fading
Sunsuniverse. Royal houses vie against rival fleets and pirates for supremacy of the
Known Worlds. Command frigates, destroyers or dreadnoughts to carve a fiefdom from
the stars! Let loose all guns against your enemies and loot their crippled ships! Includes
32 plastic starship miniatures. Stock #: 500, ISBN: 1-888906-50-2, $55.00
Order from our website (http://www.holistic-design.com) or send check or moneyorder payable to Holistic Design with a list of requested items and costs. Postage fee is
$4.00 per order for orders under $50.00. Expect 2-3 weeks shipping time. (International
orders: Postage fee is equal to 25% of total purchase price or $10.00, whichever is
greater. Expect 4-8 weeks shipping time.)
Product Orders
Holistic Design
5295 Hwy 78
D-337
Stone Mountain, GA 30087
Visit our website at: http://www.holistic-design.com